The Ports Authority will grant a full exemption on storage charges for cargo delayed in the ports by the strike
The Israel Ports Authority management will recommend to the Ports Authority council to compensate business damaged by the prolonged ports strike. The Ports Authority management recommends granting a full exemption on storage charges for cargo delayed in the ports by the strike, announced Ports Authority director-general Amos Ron following a special management meeting to discuss expediting the ports' handling of cargos and ships. The damage is estimated at tens of millions of dollars.
Exports, importers, and shipping companies were forced to pay tens of millions of dollars in storage charges to port authorities in Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy for cargo en route to Israel. Ron decided to grant the exemption to compensate companies for these losses in response to a request by Israel Shippers Council head Eyal Malamud. Malamud threatened to sue the Ports Authority if his demands were not met.
Sources inform “Globes” today that the Manufacturers Association is calling on the government to compensate manufacturers for damage from the strike. In addition to the storage charges, the manufacturers intend to sue the government for medium and long-term damage from the strike, such as lost customers and stalled production lines. The Manufacturer Association estimates the strike caused manufacturers NIS 6.5 billion in damage.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on October 13, 2003